Oh boy, do I need help! Husband has a conference in D.C. for a week, and 13 yr. old son and I are set for a weeks worth of D.C. fun. However, all three of us have 3 days after the conference to go see something else within a reasonable drive. Checked out the beach areas from VA through DE and the Outer Banks and can't find a hotel reasonably priced enough in mid-July to allow us to visit the coast. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe something that would allow a daytrip to the beach (coming from CA). Would like to find someplace reasonably nice in the $150 or so a night range (or less). Couldn't find anything coastal for less than $250/night. Thanks so much for your help!

Try posting here and asking about Maryland/Delaware beaches - I can't remember enough specifics to help you. You might combine that with some time in Baltimore. Go to a baseball game, ride the water taxis, maybe see Fort McHenry. We were able to get a really nice and reasonable hotel in Baltimore on Priceline. They have Inner Harbor listed as a zone and since it is such a small area, you would really get a hotel within a 6-8 block area, unlike other cities. You might even be able to do beach day trip from there.

I don't have a specific recommendation for seaside lodging, but you might consider making a reservation a few miles inland in Delaware, and then driving to one of the beaches.

For instance, there's Cape Henlopen State Park, which has reasonable parking fees, or you could go to Rehobeth, which, with a boardwalk, might be more attractive to a 13-year-old.

Just a suggestion if you're determined to go to the beach.

Since you've have just spent time seeing our government today, and a bit about US government, how about Williamsburg where you get to find out about things leading UP to the formation of our country?

And of course there's Busch Gardens and the Waterpark (can't remember the name) too.

Or you could head to the mountains? Harpers Ferry, Skyline Drive.

One suggestion is Chincoteague Virginia. You'd have to stay in town and drive or bike to the beach. The beach is park land/refuge. Nice bike trails. Or closer to DC try Lewes Delaware. It's close, there's a nice national park with ocean and bay beaches, and the town is very pretty. Not as hectic as Rehoboth or Ocean City. Here's a site for BandB listings in Delaware:
http://www.visitsoutherndelaware.com/bb-inns.htm

You might consider driving east on Route 50 out of DC and head for Annapolis Maryland, eastern shore, and the beaches at Ocean City, Dewey, bethany or Rehoboth.

Annapolis is a delightful city that dates back to the Revolutionary War and has cobblestone streets, the Naval Academy, and is one of the top cities for boating around. It's small (approximately 80,000 people) and can be navigated quite easily.

eastern shore is great also with St Michaels, Oxford, Cambridge, easton, Salisbury, and finally Ocean City. Most 13 year olds would love OC with a great beach, and 2 great amusement parks. There's hotels such as Princess Bayside, Dunes, Comfort Inn (2), Holiday Inns and a whole bunch where you can pick up a room around 100-150 a night (even better if its during the week and not weekend)

Ocean City is 2 1/2 hrs out of DC whereas Outer Banks is a good 6 hours and williamsburg is probably 4 hours.

Wherever you decide - have a great time!!

Thanks for all of the great advice - checked Ocean City, but again, most everything was too expensive, but ended up choosing Chincoteague. It looks like the perfect spot for us to relax and see a bit of the east coast. New question - is it reasonable to make a 3:40 flight out of Dulles if we leave Chincoteague first thing in the a.m., or should we stay near Dulles the night before?

You should have no problem getting to Dulles in the a.m. Your talking about 200 miles or so. I'd build in some cushion by leaving early.

You could also stay between the places, like Annapolis.

Hi again

Your biggest concern in getting back to Dulles is going to be which day you're flying out on.

If your flight from Dulles leaves on a SUNDAY - then you could have some difficult getting across the Bay bridge and then out to Dulles. So many people use the Maryland/Delaware beaches that the bay bridge can have a pretty good backup on Sundays.

Any other day should be fine!

I ditto Harpers Ferry. It's a wonderful place to visit!

Haven't stayed in Chincoteague, but have stayed in Ocean City a number of times. We fly in & out of DCA. Stay in Ocean CIty through Friday night, leave about 9am - 10am at the latest to catch a mid to late afternoon flight. Try to leave town by 9am though. Even on Saturday, the traffic can get backed up. I rather get to the airport too early than too late. Haven't missed a flight yet. Just allow enough time. Whatever amount of time it normally takes to get to Dulles, add atleast an hour for traffic & if you want to stop somewhere along the way for food, etc, maybe add another 1/2hour to hour.

I would recommend Baltimore and its inner harbor and Fell's Point and/or Harper's Ferry and/or Williamsburg. These places will have things to do, at least to walk to. The beaches in this area are not the caliber of other beaches such as those in CA or FL. The sand is gray brown and not at all sandy, more like mud. The Outer Banks are inaccesible for you, they are quite a haul.

I think you'll like Chincoteague. It's a funky little town and the wildlife refuge is nice. A great place to ride bikes. You can ride from town over the bridge to the refuge and all around thru the refuge (as well as all around the flat town streets). Best restaurant is AJ's on the Creek. Definitely not a gourmet kinda town. . . There is a single old movie theatre there that's fun -- shows current movies. Don't know where you've decided to stay or what "in season" prices are, but we like the Island Motor Inn - because all its rooms back onto wetlands and a canal -- makes for some nice balcony sitting in the am etc.

One thing I did when we were in D.C. was take a drive to Atlantic City for a day and then another drive to Philly for another day. Both are only about an hour away from D.C.

Hi deniseredeker: Sounds like you're pretty well set w/ your plans but I will add a couple of comments for future reference. I grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, St. Michaels to be specific - wonderful colonial town on the water. I always recommend a visit to S.M. as well as Oxford via ferry from Bellvue ( near St. Michaels ). We live in Phoenix now but return to Maryland every summer. We love spending time with our children at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and in Dewey Beach, DE. A funky beach town moments from Rehobeth. Have a great time!

Chincoteague is a nice little town and I think you will enjoy it. If after looking at your schedule, you decide you would like to be a little closer to DC another alternative is to stay at a Salisbury MD hotel and drive into Ocean City. Its about 20-30 min but you should go early to avoid beach traffic. I don't care for OC myself and prefer the Assateague Park beaches which are also close to Salisbury.

I must take exception to Tan...Girl's description of the sand at the Delaware and Maryland beaches. I grew up going to Rehoboth and Ocean City--I even remember as a young child waiting for the ferry to cross the Chesapeake and how happy I was as a teen to have the Bay Bridge built!

The sand IS brownish rather than white, and it is somewhat coarse rather than fine, which is much more fun for building sand castles. It is also sort of "deep." Your feet sink in an inch or two when you walk on it. It isn't anything like mud! I went to the beach in San Diego once (La Jolla, I believe), and although the white sand was beautiful, when we sat or lay on it, it was like lying on a plank of lumber.

In response from Tandoori's post, our beaches in DE/MD aren't mud. It's the same texture and quality that's along the atlantic coast of Florida. The sand isnt WHITE but it's thick and great for laying out/very soft. I agree with Xanthippe, it's great for building sand castles. Rehoboth & Ocean city would be a fun trip as well as Virginia Beach/Williamsburg areas. They all make for a nice weekend away from DC. BigJim = Atlantic City/Philly is more than just 1 hour from DC. They are relatively close (2-3 hours)to head up for a long day trip or overnight so that's another great idea.

Oh! You could also head out to West Virginia and do some white water rafting and enjoy some water activities out that way instead of heading to the beach. It would be closer and less expensive?